Coaches make tough decision when applying for AD job

Wednesday

Jun 9, 2010 at 12:32 PM

A handful of local candidates have applied for the recently created Jasper County School District athletics director position.The position, which interim superintendent Larry Heath and superintendent-elect Dr. Vashti Washington created to unify the county, requires coaching experience, but candidates do not have to be certified teachers or have previous experience as an athletics director.Ridgeland High junior varsity boys basketball coach Leroy Dinkins said he applied for the position and expected to be interviewed late last week.Since the district athletics director will not coach, Dinkins struggled with the possibility of giving up coaching. He decided to apply because he believes he can have a greater influence on the athletics program if he's hired as athletics director."I feel I have some things I could possibly offer to help carry on the athletic program," Dinkins said.Whoever is hired, Dinkins hopes the athletics director will have a "larger voice in being able to pinpoint specific needs."He thinks a big need is financial support and he noted athletics should establish discipline and help students become well-rounded people.Hardeeville High athletics director and varsity football coach Blake Raley applied and interviewed last week.Raley said the decision to apply was difficult because he enjoys coaching and has known many of the students since fourth grade. Even though he applied because the chance to be an AD "might not come around very often," Raley said it would be hard to not coach the football team."It would be one of the toughest things you'd ever have to do," he said. "I've not let myself think that far ahead."Raley thinks high school athletics is not just about getting a college scholarship, but preparing students to reach other goals. Raley said the 2009 Hardeeville class had 14 of 21 senior student-athletes go to college, technical school or the military. The 2010 class has about 19 of 26 senior student-athletes who plan to go to college, technical school or the military. Ridgeland girls track coach Pearl Mitchell applied, citing the chance to put her marketing degree to use.Mitchell, who was expected to interview late last week, believes part of the job involves generating funds and that will involve drafting proposals and speaking publicly. "I wanted to do more than just coach," said Mitchell, who has coached for seven years, the last three at Ridgeland. "I love sports, not just track."School board member James Gardner said he is interested in the job, but would not say if he applied. Gardner has plenty of experience in athletics. He is the City of Hardeeville's program-athletic coordinator, worked in the University of South Carolina Beaufort's athletics department in 2008 and was the county's recreation director from 1992-2005.According to the district, a board member would have to resign if hired for the AD position.A few coaches said they are not ready to give up coaching to be an athletics director.Ridgeland's boys track coach and assistant football coach Russell Holley did not apply because he still wants to coach. "I didn't know if I was ready to stop coaching and I'm still passionate about being around kids everyday," he said.Holley, who was an assistant AD when he coached at Bluffton High, is looking forward to competing in Class A next season. He's coached in Classes AA, AAA and AAAA, and he's excited for the upcoming football season."(Football coach Richard) Kirkland and I have a good chemistry going with some things," Holley said.The decision was easy for Kirkland when he learned the position requires giving up coaching."I feel like that's my team," he said. "The kids like me. I feel like we are starting to make a change in the community. Now is not the time to leave."

Administrative interviews ongoingThe athletics director position is not the only available position of note. The district is looking to fill other administrative jobs, including five principals, an executive director of professional development and chief of professional development and human resources.According to the district, interviews have been conducted regularly for many different positions.

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